Brewing is back in Sunderland - three years after hundreds of jobs were lost when Vaux closed.

Darwin Brewery, which has only six employees has moved from Crook, Co Durham, to a new based at Hendon.

The micro brewery provides bottled and draught real ale and to mark its link with Sunderland it has produced a beer called Sunderland Best.

The company, set up five years ago, says the relocation enables it to have bigger premises and to increase the workforce from four to six. One of the owner-directors is Dr St John Usher, who works at Sunderland University as a biochemist.

He is an expert in fermentation microbiology.

Dr Usher said: "We may be small, but we have brought brewing back to Sunderland.

The Darwin Brewery sells to pubs and clubs throughout Wearside, Tyneside and Co Durham. The brewery will be officially launched at Fitzgerald's, Green Terrace, Sunderland, later this month and a range of its beers will be on display. Frank Nicholson, who was managing director of Vaux Breweries will perform the opening.